Hey!
Having worked in the building materials department of a huge hardware store while in university, I have some inside tips and trick to help you cut some costs on your next DIY project! Before you head out to the nearest Home Depot, Lowe’s or Home Hardware, check out these 5 money saving tips:
1) Always ask for scraps
No matter what your project is from tiling to fencing to plumbing , it doesn’t hurt to ask one of the sales associates for scraps or cut offs lying around. In most cases customers cut off or take what they need and the rest just ends up in the trash. This is especially helpful for small scale projects where you don’t really need the full size/piece. So next time you have a mini project or even a quick repair you have to get done, just go in and ask. More often than not you will get these pieces for a couple bucks (a huge discount compared to the full size) or sometimes even for FREE!
2) Not happy with your paint colour? Ask for it to be tinted
This one is more of a precaution, time and time again I see people buying a huge can of paint and then going home to find out it is not quite the colour they were hoping for. The first part of this tip is before buying a can of paint, buy a small sample. The sample sizes have enough paint to cover a large section of your wall – enough for you to decide whether or not you like that colour in your space. Now if you have already bought a can of paint, don’t worry there’s still hope! Take the paint can back to the store and ask (nicely!) to see if they can tint it lighter or darker. Most of the time this will ‘fix’ the colour enough for you to still be able to salvage the paint can. Alternatively, cans that have been ‘forgotten’ in the store or mixed incorrectly end up on the shelf of misfits and are hugely discounted – sometimes over 50% off!
3) Ask for a discount on your large scale projects
This tip is especially helpful if you have a project that requires a lot of lumber. Having worked in that department I’ve seen people get great discounts on fencing or decking projects – anywhere between 10-20% off. Most hardware stores offer store cards that offer even more savings if you make you purchases with it. In any case, before buying your materials, go in and ask to speak to one of the department supervisors and they can draft you a fair quote.
4) Ask for damage discounts for scuffs, imperfections or open boxes
Now this is a secret I’m not sure I can really reveal.. BUT let’s just say that most sales associates have a certain ‘margin’ they can take off a product without getting it approved. If you can make your case on why this particular item should be marked down, the sales associate will happily mark it down just to get it out the doors. If you are looking for bigger discounts, just ask to speak to the department supervisor.
5) Price matching competitors
Depending on which hardware store you go to, they may offer price matching or even offer to beat the price of a competitor. If your project requires a lot of materials, the ease of being able to shop all in one place will not only save you money but time. So if you happen to find a product at a better price somewhere else, just bring in the flyer or pull it up on your phone and see if it can be matched. Hardware stores are always focused on the customer and will, in many cases, do what they can to have your business.
Hopefully you will keep these tips in mind next time you head out to your favourite hardware store and save yourself some money!
Have you got any other tips? Let me know in the comments!
Vips
gill with a drill 